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Bethel's Constitution

BethelBaptistChurch
Constitution

Ratified on November 6, 1988

Preamble

We establish this constitution to provide an outline for
governing the operations and functions of this church body in a Christ-like
manner. Furthermore, it will protect the
freedom of each church member to affect and influence the ministry of this
church.

I. Name

This body shall be known as BethelBaptistChurch located in Halifax, Virginia.

II. Objectives

To engage in meaningful worship, led by the Holy Spirit in
accordance with the Bible since worship is vital to this Church’s function.

To participate in a growing
knowledge of God’s plan for His creation by learning and teaching the Bible.

To be a church caring and
ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of those in our community and
in our world in the name of Jesus Christ.

To be a fellowship of
believers, growing in togetherness by sharing with each other in the presence
of God.

To be a church whose purpose
is to be Christ-like in our daily living by emphasizing total commitment of
life, personality, and possessions to the lordship of Christ.

III. Statement of Basic Beliefs

We believe the Holy Bible, God’s inspired word, which is
the foundation of our beliefs. This
church adopts the doctrinal statement of the Baptist Faith and Message as
adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1963. Our mission is to spread the gospel to all
persons. The ordinances of this church
are believer’s baptism and The Lord’s Supper.

IV. The Church Covenant

Having been led as we trust, by divine grace to embrace
the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the influence of His Spirit to give ourselves to
Him, so we do now solemnly covenant with each other as God shall enable us,
that we will work together in brotherly love; that we exercise a Christian care and watchfulness over each
other, and faithfully warn, rebuke, and admonish one another, as the case may
require, that we will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, nor
omit the great duty of prayer, both for ourselves and for others; that we will
participate in each other’s joys, and endeavor with tenderness and sympathy to
bear each other’s burdens and sorrows; that we will seek Divine aid to enable
us to walk circumspectly and watchfully in the world, denying ungodliness and every
worldly lust; that we will strive together for the support of a faithful
evangelical ministry among us in our own country and in the world at large, and
through life, amidst evil report and good report, seek to live to the glory of
Him who hath called us out of darkness into this marvelous light; and may God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit ever bless, strengthen, and guide
us in the due observance of this solemn covenant. Amen.

V.Polity and Relationships

The government of this church is the responsibility of
those who comprise its membership.
Persons duly received by the members shall constitute the membership.

All those appointed,
elected, and empowered by the church shall report to and be accountable only to
the church, unless otherwise specified by church action.

This church is not subject
to the control of any other established institution, but we also understand it
is necessary to communicate and cooperate with other churches. This church will cooperate with and support
the Dan River Baptist Association, the
Virginia Baptist General Association, and the Southern Baptist Convention as
deemed practical.

BYLAWS

I.Church Membership

Section 1. General

This is a self-governing and
democratic Baptist church under the lordship of Jesus Christ. The membership is the exclusive government
for all aspects of the life of this church.

The membership reserves the
exclusive right to determine who shall be members of this church and the
conditions of such membership.

Section 2. Candidacy

Any person may offer
themselves as a candidate for membership in any of the following ways:

(1)By profession of faith in Jesus Christ and for baptism according to the
policies of this church.

(2)By promise of a letter of recommendation from another Baptist church of
like faith.

(3)By receiving a statement of a prior profession of faith in Jesus and
baptism in a Baptist church when no letter is obtainable.

Addendum: A candidate who presents themselves for membership at a
service shall be voted on by the members present at the conclusion of that
service.

Should there be any dissent
as to any candidate, such dissent shall be referred to the active deacons for
investigation and the making of a recommendation to the church at the next
regularly scheduled business meeting. A
two-thirds vote of those church members present and voting shall be required to
elect such a candidate to membership.

All such candidates shall be
received into the watchcare of the church until presented by the deacons for
membership at the next regularly scheduled business meeting.

All candidates for
membership must be or have been baptized according to the policies of this
church.

Section 3. Rights of Members

(1)Every member of the church
is entitled to vote at all elections and on all questions submitted to the
church business sessions, provided the member is present.

(2)Every member of the church
is eligible for consideration by the membership as candidates for elective
officers in the church.

(3)Every member may participate
in the ordinances of this church as administered by the church.

Section 4. Termination of Membership

Membership shall be
terminated in the following ways:

(1)death of the member

(2)dismissing to another Baptist church

(3)exclusion by action of this church

(4)erasure upon request or proof of membership in a church of another
denomination

Section 5. Discipline

The members of this church
shall be under the watchcare of each other and seek to promote each other in
worship and service.

We recognize that we are all
sinners seeking salvation through Jesus Christ, therefore, judgement of our
brother or sister is not our aim. We
will not seek to work towards the harm of another, but as an agent of
reconciliation.

We will use every reasonable
and available means of counsel for any member in need. All proceedings shall be conducted in
kindness and love, without anger or malice.

Should a member become a
liability to the witness and welfare of the church and the name of Jesus
Christ, we will make every effort through the pastor, deacons or appropriate
and committee to resolve the problem

Should a member in an
elected position be unable to fulfill their obligation to that position because
of their offensive and/or unchristian conduct, the pastor and deacons shall
seek that person’s resignation. All attempts
to obtain a resignation being exhausted, the deacons by unanimous agreement
shall bring that person’s name before the church in business session to
recommend that person be removed from their position by two-thirds vote of the
voting members present.

The membership of persons
may be terminated who have become an offense to the church and its good name by
reason of immoral or unchristian conduct.

After notification, hearing,
and all efforts have been exhausted, upon unanimous recommendation from the
deacons a member may be excluded by a two-thirds vote of the voting members
present in a business session.

The person may then be
declared no longer a member.

The church may restore the
person who has been excluded upon request of that person, and by a two-thirds
vote of the voting members present, upon evidence of that person’s repentance
and reformation.

II.Church Officers and Committees

All who serve as officers of
the church and those who serve on church committees shall be members of the
church.

Section 1. Church Officers

The officers of the church
shall be the pastor, the ministerial staff, the minister of music, the deacons,
a clerk, a treasurer, and trustees.

(1)The pastor is responsible for the spiritual leadership of the church in
Christian education, proclamation, administration and caring.

A pastor shall
be chosen and called by a church whenever a vacancy occurs. The election shall take place at a special
business meeting. It shall be held at
the conclusion of morning worship one-week after the trial sermon. A week’s advance notice of both the trial
sermon and the election shall be given. “A
Pastor Selection Committee shall be nominated by the nominating committee and
elected by the church to seek a suitable pastor. The Pastor Selection Committee will consist
of 7 members with 2 alternates. The
alternates will be 1 female, 1 male. In
the event of a resignation of an original Pastor Selection Committee member, the
same gender alternate will automatically replace the resigned member. At least one member of the Pastor Selection
Committee will be a current member of the Personnel Committee. The Church Treasurer will be consulted and
act as an advisor to the Pastor Selection Committee before a salary package is
offered to the potential pastor. A
background check including criminal and financial portions will be conducted by
the Pastor Selection Committee before the Pastor candidate is presented to the
congregation for vote.” (Voted on and passed in business meeting 1/6/2010)

Recommendation
of the committee will constitute a nomination for pastor. Any church member has the privilege of making
suggestions for pastor only through the pastor-selection committee. The committee shall bring to consideration of
the church only one name at a time.
Election shall be by ballot, an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the
voting members being necessary for the choice.
The pastor, thus elected, shall serve until the relationship is
terminated by his request or the church’s request. The Nominating Committee
shall nominate a moderator each church year.
In the absence of a moderator during the church year, the clerk shall
call the church to order and preside for the election of an acting moderator.

The office of
the pastor may be vacated by: (1) the pastor’s
resignation with at least four weeks notice, (2) the church declaring the
office vacant. Such action shall take
place at a meeting called for that purpose, of which at least one week’s public
notice has been given. The meeting may
be called by the unanimous recommendation of the deacons or a written petition
signed by at least fifty resident church members. The petition and its signature will be read
at the beginning of the meeting. Any
invalid signature will nullify the petition and the meeting will be dismissed
immediately. The vote to declare the
office vacant shall be by secret ballot; an affirmative vote of two-thirds of
the voting members present being necessary to declare the office vacant. Except in instances of gross misconduct by
the pastor so excluded from office, the church will compensate the pastor with
not less than two month’s of his total annual compensation including the use of
the parsonage. The termination shall be
immediate and the compensation rendered in not more than sixty days.

Amendment – March 4, 1992 business
meeting

The pastor may
take two weeks of vacation at a time.
The pastor may carry over two days a year if needed. The two days carried over must be taken the
next year – cannot be added year after year.
In case of emergency, the above may be changed if approved at a church
business meeting.

(2)The ministerial staff shall
be called and employed as the church determines the need for such
officers. A job description shall be
written when the need for a staff member is determined. Those staff members of whom the church
requires ordination to ministry shall be recommended to the church by a
personnel search committee and called by church action, At the time of
resignation, at least four weeks notice shall be given to the church. The church may vote to vacate such positions
upon unanimous recommendation of the deacons, such terminations being immediate
and the compensation conditions being the same as for the pastor, except that
the amount shall relate to the individual’s compensation.

The minister
of music shall be nominated by the music committee and approved by the church
in a regular business session with at least one week’s public notice. The minister of music shall be a member of Bethel Baptist
church. The conditions for termination
shall be at the recommendation of the music committee and approved by the
church in a regular business session.

Non
ministerial staff members such as secretarial, custodial, choir director, and
musicians shall be employed as the church determines the need for their
services. The pastor or appropriate
committee as determined by the church shall have the authority to nominate
non-ministerial staff members. Such
employment and termination of services shall be with the recommendation of
supervising staff members or appropriate committee and approved by the church
in a regular business session.

(3)In accordance with the meaning of the work and the practice in the New
Testament, deacons are to be servants of the church. Their task is to serve with the pastor and
staff in performing the pastoral ministries tasks of: (1) leading the church in the achievement of
its mission, (2) proclaiming the gospel to believers and unbelievers, and (3)
caring for the church’s members and other persons in the community. To achieve these goals, deacons will adhere
to the standards and practices as set forth in the Deacon Covenant in Appendix
I.

Deacons shall serve three years
terms with one year between terms. If a
deacon fulfills another’s unexpired term, they may be nominated to serve with
out the one-year interim. Deacons must
be 21 years of age, a Christian, and a Southern Baptist for at least three
years and a member of Bethel Baptist church for a minimum of two years prior to
election.

The deacons
shall be nominated by the church on the last Sunday morning in August so that
they may take office on October 1 of each year after at least two weeks notice
of such proposed proceedings. The
members of the church may nominate anyone who meets the above requirements.

Each member
will nominate only three persons. Those
ballots which contain more than three names will be thrown out. The ballots will than be counted and the
unordained nominees will be screened by a counting and screening
committee. The counting and screening
committee shall be one in the same and composed of not more than five (5)
members of the church only two (2) of which should be deacons. This committee shall be selected by the
pastor. This committee shall keep all
information concerning the nominations confidential and shall not talk about
the nomination or election outside of their committee meeting. The pastor shall be an ex-officio member of
this committee as other committees.

Those receiving the highest number
of nominations will be the church’s deacon candidates. In the case of the unordained candidate(s),
the counting and screening committee shall determine whether or not they meet
the qualifications of a deacon. The
ordained candidates and approved unordained candidates shall be contacted by
the pastor (or the chairman of deacons when the church is without a pastor) as
to their willingness to serve as a deacon; and in the case of the unordained,
to see if that person(s) will consent to ordination at the hands of the church.
If a nominee wishes not to accept the
nomination, then the pastor (or chairman of deacons when the church is without
a pastor) will contact the one who has the next highest number of votes for
nomination who are willing to serve and who meet the qualifications (with
reference to an unordained nominee).
Only three shall be elected to serve as deacon annually.

Vacancies created by death or resignation shall be
filled with all haste using the above process to nominate deacons to fill only
those vacancies. Only one nomination per
vacancy, per voting member present shall be accepted.

(4)The Nominating Committee
shall nominate a moderator each church year.
In the absence of a moderator during the church year, the clerk shall
call the church to order and preside for the election of an acting moderator.

(5)The church shall elect annually a clerk as its clerical officer. The clerk shall be responsible for keeping a
suitable record of all official actions of the church, except as otherwise
herein provided. The clerk shall be
responsible for keeping a register of names of members with dates of admission,
dismission, death, or erasure together with a record of baptisms. The clerk shall issue letters of dismission
voted by the church, preserve on file all communications and written official
reports. The clerk shall be responsible
for preparing the annual letter to the association.

The church may
delegate some of the clerical responsibilities to a church secretary who will
assist the elected clerk. All church
records are church property.

(6)The church shall elect annually a church treasurer as its financial
officer. It shall be the duty of the
treasurer to receive, preserve and pay out upon receipt of vouchers approved
and signed by authorized personnel, all money or things of value paid or given
to the church, keeping at all times, an itemized account of all receipts and
disbursements. It shall be the duty of
the treasurer to render to the church at each regular business meeting an
itemized report of the receipts and disbursements of the preceding month.

(7)The church shall elect three or more trustees to serve as legal
officers of the church. They shall hold
in trust the church property. Upon
specific vote of the church authorizing each action, they shall have the power
to buy, sell, mortgage, lease, or transfer any church property. When the signatures of trustees are required,
they shall sign legal documents involving the sale, mortgage, purchase, or
rental of property or other legal documents related to church approved matters. Trustees shall serve for life or until
resignation.

Section 1.
Church committees

The committees
of this church shall be a nominating committee, a building and grounds
committee, a cemetery committee, a stewardship committee, a missions committee,
a church music committee, and such other
regular and special committees as the church shall authorize. Additional regular committees may be added by
the amendment procedure prescribed within these bylaws. All church committee members shall be recommended
by the church nominating committee and elected by the church to serve on an
annual basis unless otherwise specified within these bylaws.

(1)The nominating committee shall be made up of current Sunday School
director; assistant Sunday School director, WMU director, brotherhood director,
minister of music, chairman of deacons, and three members at large selected by
the previous year’s committee. The
nominating committee coordinated the staffing of all church leadership
positions filled by volunteer workers, unless otherwise specified herein. Persons considered for any such positions
shall first be approved by the nominating committee before they be approached
for recruitment. The nominating
committee shall present to the church for election all that accept the
invitation to serve.

(2)The building and grounds committee shall consist of five members
nominated by the nominating committee of which at least two shall be
women. They shall serve on a three year
rotating basis with one man and one woman rotating per year excepting of the
third year when only one member shall rotate.
There shall be one year between terms.

The building and grounds committee assists the
church in matters related to property administration. Its work includes such areas as maintaining
all church properties for ready use, recommending policies regarding use of
properties, consulting with the church staff regarding the need for and
employment of maintenance personnel, and the preparation of an annual budget
proposal. The committee may authorize
disbursement of funds for budgeted items not to exceed five hundred dollars per
project. Items not budgeted or exceeding
five hundred dollars must receive church approval.

(3)The stewardship committee shall be made up of the church clerk, church
treasurer, Sunday School director, W.M.U. director, minister of music, chairman
of deacons, chairman of building and grounds, assistant church treasurer, and
Brotherhood director.

The
stewardship committee develops and recommends an overall stewardship development
plan, a unified church budget, and budget subscription plans. It advises and makes recommendations in the
administration of the gifts of church members and others using sound principles
of financial management. It works with
the treasurer in the preparation and presentation to the church of the annual
budget proposal.

The missions
committee seeks to discover possibilities for local mission projects, share findings
with church program organizations and serves the church in establishing and
conducting such mission projects as may be assigned to it. The missions committee shall recommend
mission offering goals for church approval.

(5)The church cemetery committee will oversee the division of cemetery
plots, contribute to the maintenance of the grounds and collection of funds
from the sale of plots. The members of
this committee shall serve indefinite terms upon agreement with the church and
individual committee members. The
cemetery committee shall make an annual financial disclosure to the church.

(6)The music committee shall be appointed by the nominating committee and
shall serve for one year. The minister
of music, organist, and pianist shall be ex-officio members if qualified under
Bylaw II. Membership shall consist
of five (5) members and the ex-officio
members. The committee will be responsible
for: (1) helping plan, with the minister
of music, for the music program, (2) bringing to the church recommendations for
hiring music ministry personnel, (3) helping to plan the music ministry budget,
(4) establishing and carrying out policies and job descriptions for music
ministry personnel, (5) making any other recommendations to the church that
involve church music.

III.Church Program Organizations

The church shall maintain
programs of Bible teaching; new member orientation, mission education, action,
and support; and music education training and performance. All organizations related to the church
programs shall be under church control, all officers being elected by the
church, reporting regularly to the church, and all program activities subject
to church coordination and approval. The
church shall provide the human resources, the physical resources, and the financial
resources for the appropriate advancement of these programs.

(1)The Sunday School shall be
the basic organization for the Bible teaching program. Its tasks shall be to teach the biblical
revelation, reach persons for Christ and church membership, perform the
functions of the church within its constituency, provide and interpret
information regarding the work of the church and denomination.

The Sunday School shall be organized by departments
and/or classes, as appropriate for all ages, and shall be conducted under the
direction of the Sunday School director elected by the church.

(2)Women’s Missionary Union shall be the mission education, mission action, and
mission support organization of the church for women, young women, girls, and
preschool children. Its tasks shall be
to teach missions; engage in mission action; support world missions through
praying and giving; and provide and interpret information regarding the work of
the church and denomination. Women’s
Missionary Union shall have such officers and
organization, as the program requires.

(3)The Brotherhood shall be the
church’s organization for mission education, mission action, and mission
support for men, young men, and boys.
Its tasks shall be to teach missions, engage in mission action, support
world missions through praying and giving, and provide and interpret
information regarding the work of the church and denomination. The Brotherhood shall have such officers and
organizations as the program requires.

(4)The church music
organization, under the direction of the church-elected minister of music or
music director, shall be the music education, training, and performance
organization of the church. Its tasks
shall be to teach music; and provide music in the church and community.

IV.Church Program Services

The church shall maintain media
center services, recreation services, and benevolent services for the purpose
of enriching and extending the ministries and programs of the church.

(1)The media center service will be the resource center for the
church. Its personnel will seek to
provide and promote the use of printed and audiovisual resources. They also will provide consultation to church
leaders and members in the use of printed and audiovisual resource.

(2)The church benevolent service will seek to meet the financial needs of
those persons in crisis. The benevolent
committee and the pastor shall establish the need and administer the funds
accordingly.

V.Church Council

The church council shall serve
the church by leading in planning, coordinating, conducting and evaluating the
ministries and programs of the church and its organizations. The primary functions of the church council
shall be to recommend to the church suggested objectives and church goals; to
review and coordinate ministry and program plans recommended by church
officers, organizations, and committees; to recommend to the church the use of
leadership, calendar time, and other resources according to program priorities;
and to evaluate achievements in terms of church objectives and goals.

Regular member
of the church council shall be the pastor, other church staff members,
directors of the church program organizations, media center director, chairman
of deacons, and church officers.

All matters
agreed upon by the council which call for action not already approved shall be
referred to the church for approval or disapproval.

VI.Church Ordinances

Section 1.
Baptism

This church
shall receive for baptism any person who has received Jesus Christ as Savior by
personal faith, who professes him publicly at any worship service, who
indicates a commitment to follow Christ as Lord, and who is confirmed by the
church body.

(1)Baptism shall be by immersion in water.

(2)The pastor, or whomever the church shall authorize, shall administer
baptism. The baptism committee shall
assist in the preparation for and the observance of baptism.

(3)Baptism shall be administered as an act of worship during any worship
service of the church.

(4)Any person who professes Christ and is not baptized after a reasonable
length of time shall be counseled by the pastor and/or staff or deacons. If negative interest is ascertained on the
part of the candidate, they shall be deleted from those awaiting baptism.

Section
2. The Lord’s Supper

The church
shall observe the Lord’s Supper quarterly, the first Sunday of each quarter,
unless otherwise scheduled by the church.
The pastor and deacons shall administer the Lord’s supper, the Lord’s
Supper committee being responsible for the physical preparations.

VII.Church Meetings

Section 1.
Worship Services

The church shall meet regularly each Sunday
morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening for the worship of Almighty
God. Any cancellation of worship shall
be at the discretion of the church.
Prayer, praise, preaching, instruction, evangelism, and other acts of
worship shall make up these serves. The
pastor shall direct the services for all the church members and for all others
who may choose to attend.

Section
2. Special Services

Revival
services and any other church meetings essential to the advancement of the
church’s objectives shall be placed on the church calendar.

Section
3. Regular Business Meetings

The church
shall hold regular business meetings monthly on Wednesday night following the
first Sunday unless others designated.

Section
4. Special Business Meetings

The church may
conduct called business meetings to consider matters of special nature and
significance. A one-week notice must be
given for the specially called business meeting unless extreme urgency renders
such notice impractical. Bulleting
notice shall include the subject, the date and time and place.

Section
5. Quorum

The quorum
consists of those members who attend the business meeting, provided it is a
stated meeting or one that has been properly called.

Section
6. Parliamentary Rules

Robert’s Rules
of Order, Revised, is the authority for parliamentary rules of procedure for
all business meetings of the church.

VIII.Church Finances

Section 1. Budget

The
stewardship committee, in consultation with the church committees, shall
prepare and submit to the church for approval an inclusive budget, indicating
by items the amount needed and sought for all expenses. Offering envelopes will be provided for
members’ use.

It is
understood that membership in this church involves financial obligation to
support the church and its causes with regular, proportionate gifts. When appropriate, there shall be opportunity
provided to secure worthy commitments of financial support from the church
members.

Section
2. Accounting Procedures

All funds
received for any and all purposes shall pass through the hands of the church
treasurer, financial secretary, or a counting committee, and be properly
recorded on the books of the church.
(See Article II, Section 1, (6) regarding the church treasurer).

A system of accounting
that will adequately provide for the handling of all funds shall be the
responsibility of the stewardship committee in cooperation with the church
treasurer.

Section
3. Fiscal Year

The church
fiscal year shall begin January 1 and end December 31.

IX.Church Operations Manual

A special committee of the
church shall develop a church operations manual to include church policies and
procedures and organization charts depicting lines of responsibility in the
administration of the church. The manual
shall be kept in the church office and made available for use there by any
member of the church. The church
secretary shall maintain the manual. The
church council or a special committee shall review the manual at least
annually, with authority to recommend changes for the church to consider. Any church member or church organization may
initiate suggested changes in the manual.

Addition,
revision, or deletion of church policies requires; (1) the recommendation of
the church officer or organization to whose areas of assignment the procedures
relate, (2) approval by the church council, and (3) approval of the church, if
the church council deems it necessary.

X.Amendments

Changes in the constitution and
bylaws may be made at any regular business meeting of the church provided each
amendment shall have been presented in writing at a previous business meeting
and copies of the proposed amendment shall have been furnished to each member
present at the earlier meeting. Amendments
to the constitution shall be by two-thirds vote of voting member present. Amendments to the bylaws shall have a
concurrence of a majority of the members present and voting.

Appendix I

BethelBaptistChurch

Deacon Covenant

Having been selected by our
church to serve in the capacity of deacon, we most solemnly and joyfully enter
into covenant with one another and with our church. We enter into covenant with reference to the
following matters:

We shall
earnestly strive to attain the Christian character expressed in the scriptural
qualifications for a deacon in I Timothy 3:;8-13 and Acts 6:1-7.

I.As to Scripture and
Doctrine: We believe the Bible to be God’s Holy Word written by men and
inspired of God. Further, we believe it
to be the sole guide for the understanding of doctrine and our faith.

II.As to conduct:

1.We engage, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk and work together in
Christian love; to walk circumspectly in the world; abstaining from the use or
sale of alcoholic beverages in any form; and from worldly pleasures and
practices that would in any way bring reproach on the name of Christ.

2.We further engage, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to be Godly at all
times in our speech, endeavoring to be charitable and sympathetic, and not
unjust or unkind in our criticism of others.

3.We further engage, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to “rule our houses
well” by setting a Christian example before our household, by religiously
educating our children and putting the proper emphasis on devotion and prayer,
we shall seek to make our homes thoroughly and properly Christian.

III.As to Duties;

1.We shall share counsel with the pastor in the church’s ministry,
especially in matters of church policy, discipline, soul winning, and
fellowship among the members of the church.

2.We shall attempt to cultivate the fellowship and guard the unity of the
spirit within the church.

3.We further engage to set the example along with our pastor in spiritual
matters; therefore, we agree to gladly take an active part in the major
organizations of the church, and in both of the regular worship services of the
Lord’s Day, and in the mid-week services commonly called the Prayer Meeting,
unless we are providentially hindered.

4.We further engage to be faithful in attendance at the regular and
special meetings of the deacons, unless providentially hindered.

5.We agree to counsel with the finance, budget, nominating or any other
committee or group within the church when called upon.

6.We shall aid the pastor in administering the ordinances and the ushers
in the gathering of the offering when called upon.

7.We agree to aid the pastor in performing special ministries such as
caring for the needs of church members and other members of the community.

IV.As to Dedication:

1)We shall endeavor, by the aid of the Holy spirit, to know and to
understand the fundamental doctrines of the Bible, to understand the
distinctive teachings of our church and denomination, and therefore, be able at
all times to share with every man the faith that we have in Christ.

2)We shall be good stewards of that which God has given us. We will use our time, talents, and we will
give unto God the tithe, which is rightfully His.

Realizing that
the terms, deacon, means “servant”, one who actively serves, we agree that to
the best of our ability and by the aid of the Holy Spirit to be good servants
of our Lord and church. To this high and
holy task we therefore dedicate ourselves as deacons of our church.
We recognize and to the best of our ability will adhere to the church
covenant.

END OF CHURCH CONSTITUTION

_____________________________________________________________

Pastor-Church Covenant

With the recognition and
acknowledgment that God has brought us together through His divine guidance to
serve Him and this community, we, the members of BethelBaptistChurch and the pastor of
the same, prayerfully and willingly enter into this Covenant.

The membership of the BethelBaptistChurch solemnly and
joyfully enters into this Covenant with our pastor, Gregory T. Smith.

Recognizing the governing
principles as defined in the Constitution and By-Laws of the church as adopted,
we adopt this Covenant as evidence of our commitment to promote a harmonious
working relationship between the membership and the pastor. We believe that these mutual agreements and
understandings will be of benefit to the church in promoting its ministries and
in fostering prosperity and growth.

We promise to support by
our prayers and actions this pastor-church covenant. We prayerfully request the leadership and
guidance of the Holy Spirit in this endeavor.

The Pastor’s
Covenant

Because God has called me
to the Gospel ministry, and to serve as pastor of BethelBaptistChurch, I will:

1.Place God first, my family second,
and the congregation third. Be
accessible and available to the people of the congregation.

2.Do all that is within me to be a committed follower
of Jesus Christ, seeking to grow and mature in my faith. Regularly participate in my own continuing
education and personal development.

3.Be involved in regular study and
sermon preparation, and also to be involved in times of reflection, prayer, and
quiet discernment.

4.Be responsible for preaching,
teaching, leading Bible study and prayer on Wednesday nights and at other
times.

5.Designate revival speakers and
other guest speakers throughout the year.

7.Serve as an administrator and a
resource for the church's boards and committees, and to teach and provide
leadership for stewardship. Consult with
committees as needed, meet with deacon chair, (preferably once a month), meet
with other chairpersons when a big project or conflict occurs, plan
training for key leaders as needed, and lead church council in planning
and implementing programs. Remind church leaders and secretary of annual work that
needs to be done such as Bethel Baptist Cares, newsletter deadlines, and remind
church leadership of deadlines, deacon elections, budget nominating committee
work, etc. Deliver ministry checks to
local organizations.

8.Coordinate pastoral staff
responsibilities.

9.Oversee secretarial work.

10.Demonstrate commitment to minister
to the needs of people at critical times in their lives, including those who
are seriously ill, in the hospital or in their homes, members in crisis,
grieving, or shut-in.

11.Counsel members in need of counseling,
Lead in conflict resolutions with church members. Provide resources for all of
the above, making referrals through other community resources as needed or
available.

12.Be informed and involved in the
life of the Dan River Baptist Association, the Baptist General Association of
Virginia, theCooperative
Baptist Fellowship, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Attend denominational meetings on the
local, state and national level, and keep the church informed.

13.Be engaged in personal evangelism,
and lead the congregation in reaching out to others in the community who need Christ,
to call on new visitors and to teach new member classes.

14.Work diligently to relate to the
congregation in a healthy, constructive and redemptive manner especially when
we experience conflict.

15.Participate in ecumenical efforts
and to inform our congregation of opportunities for mutual ministry and
service.

16.Design creative worship and
devotional resources.

17.Meet regularly with the Pastoral
Care Committee, to engage in mutual evaluation of ministry, to discuss
opportunities for continuing education and issues of self-care, and to review
compensation annually.

18.Upon my departure as your minister,
I will cease my pastoral functions, which rightfully should be conducted by my
successor.

The Church’s Covenant

Because we have called you to move to our community
and serve as the Shephed of this flock under Christ, our head, we the body of BethelBaptistChurch will:

1.Accept your feeling of call under
God to do His work.

2.Pray for you daily and support you
emotionally.

3.Realize that the pastor does not
serve alone, but in a community.

4.Be open, honest, and compassionate
in sharing feelings, hopes and fears with you.

5.Be faithful in our involvement in
the life of the church, both in its gathered life and as we are scattered about
the community.

6.Accept our responsibility to
provide you with the adequate compensation and reimbursement for ministry
related expenses.

7.Insist that you take care of your
physical life and your family relationships.
Encourage the pastor to systematically observe his regular days off,
which will ordinarily be Fridays and Saturdays.

8.Respect
the pastor and family’s need to have uninterrupted vacation time, even during
times of member crisis, and will accept the ministry of deacons and other
church leaders in the pastor’s absence.

9.Require no more rigid standard of conduct for your
spouse and children than we recognize for ourselves.

10.Work
diligently to relate to you in a healthy, constructive and redemptive manner,
especially when we experience conflict.

11.Cease to
look to you for pastoral guidance when you terminate your service with us.

This Covenant will be
reviewed annually and updated as needed according to the needs and direction of
BethelBaptistChurch
and our Pastor.

This covenant is entered
into gladly and willingly by the members of BethelBaptistChurch, and by Pastor
Greg Smith.

Our preaching is designed to inspire and educate believers, and to lead people to faith in Jesus Christ.

Our teaching is Christ-centered and Bible-based.

Our ministries extend to all generations, from infants to seniors. We have a healthy balance of generations at Bethel.

Our missions are incarnational - meaning that while giving to missionaries is a priority for us, we believe that every Christian is called to live out our faith among our neighbors daily, and to be missionaries wherever we are.